Dartmouth Police arrest man after shots fired Saturday morning

DARTMOUTH, MA – On Saturday, February 1, 2020 at approximately 2:30 a.m., members of the Dartmouth Police Department responded to #63 Seabreeze Drive to perform a health and welfare check on a male who resided there.

Upon arrival, officers heard two gunshots come from inside of the residence. In light of this, officers secured the scene and contacted a Dartmouth police officer assigned to the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit.

Upon the arrival of the SWAT officer, he was able to convince the male to exit the apartment, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Subsequent to his arrest, the male suspect was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford to be evaluated.

After the apartment was secured, Dartmouth Police detectives obtained a search warrant, during which time they recovered two semi-automatic handguns and several hundred rounds of ammunition.

As a result of the incident, Eric Nellis, 54, of #63-B Seabreeze Drive, Dartmouth, Massachusetts was charged with discharging a firearm within 500’ of a building, disturbing the peace, two counts of vandalism, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.

According to Dartmouth Chief of Police Brian P. Levesque, “I am extremely pleased that there were no injuries as a result of this man’s foolish and careless actions. I applaud the actions of every officer involved in this incident, as it could have ended much differently.”